Harbor Blotter -- Feb. 15

Newport Harbor
Feb. 5 * 5:42 p.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a boat bilge pumping at Lido Yacht Anchorage. Officers confirmed it was pumping seawater and was not contaminated with pollutants. Feb. 5 * 2:02 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers recovered a boat that was reported missing by its owner. Officers left a message for the owner to recover the boat at high tide. Feb. 6 * 3:41 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers re-secured a boat in the D Mooring Field.

Dana Point Harbor
Feb. 4 * 12:04 p.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a kayak stolen from the East Basin.Feb. 6 * 11:39 a.m. Harbor Patrol officers towed a dinghy back to its owner in the West Basin.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Marina del Rey
Jan. 27 * 1 p.m. While on patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol Boat Crew deputies observed five swimmers holding onto a surfboard, approximately 50 yards off Venice Beach. The group was unable to swim to shore due to the current. The swimmers were recovered from the water and transported to the Marina del Rey Sheriff’s Station.Jan. 31*12:40 p.m. Marine Patrol deputies observed workers scraping and painting the hull of a large vessel. The master of the vessel was cited for a violation of Los Angeles County Code for discharge of paint and residue into the waters of the marina. Feb. 2 * 4:37 p.m. Deputies responded to a mayday call from a vessel taking on water, 600 yards off the El Segundo shoreline. Boat Crew personnel, along with members of Baywatch Marina del Rey, assisted the vessel, towing it back to Marina del Rey. Feb. 3 * 3:20 p.m. Deputies responded to an emergency report of a vehicle in the water at the county launch ramp, at the end of “H” Basin. Boat Crew deputies located a 2006 Lexus, which was totally submerged. All passengers were accounted for, and the vehicle was towed out of the water. The owner of the car reported that his transmission had failed.

VENTURA COUNTY
Channel Islands Harbor
Jan. 26 * 2:50 p.m. Channel Islands Harbor Patrol officers received a distress call from a powerboat with three people on board, lost in the fog west of Silver Strand Beach. A Harbor Patrol vessel was dispatched and the powerboat was safely escorted into the harbor. Jan. 29 * 2:05 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers received a distress call from a sailboat with four people on board. The operator reported the vessel was taking on water while under way in the main basin. Moments later, the operator moored the vessel at the Harbormaster Dock, where Harbor Patrol officers initiated dewatering operations. Officers located the source of the incoming water and towed the vessel to a local boatyard for emergency haulout. Feb. 1 * 6 p.m. A Harbor Patrol officer observed a motor vessel that had lost power and drifted to a dock on the southeast side of the harbor. Harbor Patrol officers towed the vessel to a temporary mooring. Feb. 2 * 1:40 p.m. A Harbor Patrol officer observed a vessel adrift in the main basin. Upon investigation, it was determined the vessel had run out of fuel. Officers towed the vessel to the fuel dock. Feb. 3 * 12:30 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers received a call of an electric boat without power, adrift in the main basin. Harbor Patrol officers located the vessel and towed it to its mooring in the East Channel. Feb. 3 * 3:05 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers received a distress call from a sailboat with two people on board that went aground in the shoal area of the outer harbor. Harbor Patrol officers responded and, with the assistance of local fire agencies, the sailboat’s crew was safely removed from the vessel. The vessel was later removed by a local commercial salvage company. Feb. 3 * 6:45 p.m. Harbor Patrol officers received a report of a fishing vessel without power, adrift in the harbor entrance near dredging operations. A Harbor Patrol vessel responded and found the fishing vessel had drifted to and safely moored to the dredge. Harbor Patrol officers towed the vessel to its mooring at the Ventura County Commercial Fishing Marina.

Ventura Harbor
Jan. 28 * 10:20 a.m. Ventura Harbor Patrol officers received a report from a boater at a local marina that the bowline of a vessel had parted. Officers had to encourage a large seal lion to get off the dock before being able to secure the vessel. The shore power was not reattached, so officers requested the marina operator to contact the vessel’s owner. Feb. 3 * 3:45 p.m. Vessel Assist called the Harbor Patrol to report a vessel disabled in Pierpont Basin. Officers took the vessel in tow and released it at its dock in the keys.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Santa Barbara Harbor
Jan. 27 * 6:45 a.m. Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol officers responded to a report of a transient sleeping in the showers at Marina 3. Officers contacted the subject and issued a citation for illegal entry into the facility. It was later determined that the subject also had an outstanding warrant, and he was arrested and booked into county jail.Jan. 30 * 5:45 p.m. Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens contacted Harbor Patrol officers to report that the operator of a fishing vessel left the launch ramp dock after he was instructed by wardens not to leave. Harbor Patrol officers spotted and detained the operator until the wardens finished with their investigation. The commercial fisherman was found to have a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit, according to officers’ reports, and was arrested.